my new anthem...

thanks to a little time spent on pinterest tonight....just a little reminder that sometimes magical things are discovered when you least expect them, and when you have a zillion other things you should be doing!

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best. gift. ever.

leave it to my amazing cousin (of mainely home fame) to send us not only the first gift of wedding season, but also the very best.

she and i share a love of mason jars (see here & here) and the appreciation of a clever card. so,when i arrived home last night and found waiting for me a triple extra large mason jar with a tag reading...."a mason jar as big as your love" my little heart just about burst...it doesn't get much more perfect than that.

well, maybe it would get a little bit better if she shared her sources with us....hint, hint!

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cookies & milk & love

oh, how i love cyber space, especially on bitterly cold winter days when you have just eaten a bowl of yummy soup, the sky is turning dark, and your to-do list is a mile long. such a wonderful place to escape to and find such wonderful treasures. treasures like this tasty and romantic tablescape courtesy of the city cradle.

cookies and milk will most certainly be a part of our big day (we both love our sweets and you can't get much more vermont-y than milk) and i think this photoshoot just might be the perfect inspiration i didn't even know i was looking for! now all i have to do is find an "&" cookie cutter and some vintage suitcases...back to cyberland i go and i couldn't be happier!

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wine {for a cause} wednesday

wine for a cause - what a fabulous idea!

although i can take no credit for the idea or even for finding it (thank you, mainely home!) but what i can do is share it with you all as a fantastic holiday gift idea....there are a lot of wine lovers in my life and a lot of folks i have left to buy for, so this is just about perfect!

OneHope donates a portion of each bottle (totaling fifty percent of its profits!) to charity. Each variety supports a different cause - autism, breast cancer, our troops, AIDS, children's hospitals and more.

OneHope was started by eight friends who worked out of their living rooms, selling wine out of their trunks, trying to help support a friend in her fight against cancer. Now an enterprise, the company has sold over 20,000 cases of wine - and donated $350,000 to charity, since its inception in June 2007.

Pretty cool, huh?

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why i run...

one of my favorite hometown events has to be the vermont city marathon. i am admittedly unbelieveably partial when it comes to this race - as it runs right by my front door, happens on my birthday, and i get to be part of the American Cancer Society's DetermiNation program - a group of inspiring athletes who dedicate their training and participation in the race to the fight against cancer.

so, when i had the opportunity to write a little something about "why i run" for the vcm blog, i was thrilled. it got me thinking about the answer to that seemingly simple question, and what i found out through writing it all down, was just as rewarding as a nice long run might be! (and believe it or not, if you are planning to run in this year's race, it's almost time to start training!)

here is just a little snippet from that little something i wrote. visit the runvermont blog to read more about me and a whole lot of other awesome folks!

* * * * * *

So, you ask, why do I run? It’s simple really – I run because of the people. I run because of the people standing with you at the start line. I run because of that friend who finds you on last stretch down the bike path when you think you have nothing left. I run because I like being part of the coolest, happiest club around. I run because of the people you meet out there on the pavement. I run because I really like the people at Fleet Feet where I buy my sneakers. I run for the people who can’t. I run to hear the stories.

I am lucky enough to work with the American Cancer Society and our DetermiNation program here in Vermont. Through this work, I have met the most amazing people. Cancer Survivors who are working their way back into marathon shape after Chemo knocked them down. Caregivers who are braving their first 26.2 miles in honor of someone they love who is fighting the disease. Each of them is making their miles more meaningful and each and every one of them is a champion and a friend. I have discovered that running and story telling are ties that will bind us long after our shin splints and blisters have healed. This group of us runs together every week because we not only share the love of running, but also, the same vision – a vision for a world with less cancer and more birthdays. And really, what could be better than that? After all, every 5th birthday means a different age group, and we all know what that means to a runner!

There is a famous quote that says “if you share of coffee with stranger, by the time your cup is empty, you are strangers no more.” I feel that way about running; it connects people. The most unlikely bonds are formed out there on the pavement, whether it’s spoken or not.

So, I challenge you all, before the year is out – go for a run with someone new. Or, if you are a braver soul than I, just strike up a conversation with someone you see out on the road. Make a clever remark about the weather (always a hit up here in Vermont) or compliment them on their fancy sneakers. If you are a bit more daring, and really up for a debate, ask them about how they feel about the barefoot running craze or interval training, or just ask them what they really think about for all those miles. I have found that often, asking the simple question “Why do you run?” has been the best question of all….

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baby, it's cold outside!

i have party planning on the brain these days in a big big way. and i fell instantly in love when i came across this ice skating party. the bonfire, the mason jars, the burlap table cloths, the hot chocolate, the candles, the tubs of beer....cozy, romantic, fun and oh so vermont-y. plus, my husband to be (yup, that's right, mr. frederickson and i are making it official!) is quite the skater. i think maybe we are on to something....

so, a winter wedding? what do you think!?!?

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the most wonderful time of the year...

happy friday! and what a festive week it has been - i am almost sad to see it come to an end. but i am floating on cloud 9 (more on that later) and can't wait to cozy up with someone special tonight and celebrate this magical time of year! i hope this weekend brings you all sorts of warm and fuzzy feelings as well.

i'll be back in full force next week with lots of holiday cheer and a little bit of news....

until then....make it a great one!

XOXO

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tuesday shoesday - the party boot

i don't know about you, but after seeing these perfectly festive wellies, a rainy and wet holiday season wouldn't be so bad! it's singing in the rain meets it's the most wonderful time of the year!

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the polar express

hands down, the very best book of all time is the polar express. no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

and this weekend, in vermont, this magical book comes to life - both here in burlington and down the road in hartford. a train ride complete with hot chocolate, homemade cookies, sing-a-longs, conductors, santa and of course, the first gift of christmas! can you imagine a more perfect way to spend a saturday? 'cause i sure can't....

so, what do you think? who's on board?

“though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”

-the polar express

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december is...

december is (very) merry.

she is filed with joy.

december speaks many languages.

she hears hope in every voice.

december makes angels in the snow.

she is happiest with open hands.

december loves the smell of evergreens.

she comes bearing gifts.

december sparkles with goodwill and strings of lights.

she lights candles in the dark.

december is a great last act.

she can experience things spiritually.

december wraps it's packages carefully.

she dances in the arms of the world.

december has read & green slip covers.

she believes in things unseen.

december gives and receives.

she is a revelation.

{image via}

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